Summary

Connections: A World Historyfocuses on the connections within and between societies, combining a uniquely comprehensive and consistent map program with a strong pedagogical support and a narrative that students will actually read. Written by historians with years of experience teaching world history,Connectionspresents both a global and regional perspective, so students can appreciate both the diversity and connectedness of human societies. Concise chapters and a clear engaging narrative make the text accessible to a wide range of students. In addition, because students struggle with geography, the book includes significantly more maps than other texts-in most cases twice as many-and great care was taken to make them consistent and exceptionally clear. In each caption, the authors have provided guidance for reading the map and for connecting it to the surrounding text. To further help students succeed, marginal notes highlight major connections for easy review, and pronunciation guides appear after difficult names. Lastly, compelling vignettes introduce the themes of each chapter, concise excerpts from relevant primary sources allow students to hear the voices of the past, and an extensive chapter review section is designed to help students test themselves and succeed in this difficult course.

Table of Contents

The Emergence of Human Societies, to 3000 B.C.E.

Early Societies of West Asia and North Africa, to 500 B.C.E.

Societies and Beliefs of Early India, to 300 C.E.

The Origins of the Chinese Empire, to 220 C.E.

Early American Societies: Connection and Isolation, 20,000 B.C.E.-1500 C.E.

The Persian Connection: Its Impact and Influences, 2000 B-C.E-637 C.E.

Classical Greece and Its Conflict with Asia, 2000-30 B.C.E.

The Romans Connect the Mediterranean World, 753 B.C.E-284 C.E.

Germanic Societies and the Emergence of the Christian West, 100-1100 C.E.

The Byzantine World, 284-1240

Origins and Expansion of Islam, 100-750

Religion and Diversity in the Transformation of Southern Asia, 711-1400

African Societies and the Impact of Islam, 1500 B.C.E - 1500 C.E.

The Evolution and Expansion of East Asian Societies, 220-1240 C.E.

Nomadic Conquests and Eurasian Connections, 100-1400

The Resurgence of the Christian West 1050-1530

Culture and Conflict in the Great Islamic Empires, 1071-1707

The Aztec and Inca Empires, 1300-1550

Global Exploration and Global Empires, 1400-1700

The West in an Age of Religious Conflict and Global Expansion, 1500-1650